Method and apparatus for wax lamination



Dec. 2, 1941. A. M. WICKWIRE, JR 2,264,494

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WAX LAMINATION Filed Feb. 16, 1939 F- -|NVENTORARTHUR M.WICKWIRE JR.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1941 2,264,494 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WAXLAMINATION Arthur M. Wickwire, In, Mountain Lakes, N. J.,

assignor to Champlain Corporation, a corporation of New York ApplicationFebruary is, 1939, Serial No. 256,685

4 Claims.

This invention relates to wax lamination of sheets or webs of paper, andaims to provide an improved method and apparatus for laminating paperwebs with wax, wherein the amounts of wax between the layers and on theexposed surfaces of the completed web are accurately controlled in animproved manner.

In the copending application of William F. Grupe, Serial No. 187,839,filed January 21, 1938, there is disclosed a method and apparatus forlaminating printed webs of paper with wax. According to this method, aplurality of webs are laminated, and the amounts of wax between layersis controlled, by passing the webs into a bath of wax and subjectingthem topressure within the bath. While this procedure has beensatisfactory, it has been found that when the complete apparatus isoperated at' speeds i n excess of 400 feet per minute, the amount of waxbetween the layers is difficult to control. Because of the difiiculty inmaintaining a uniform tension in the webs and because of the lubricatingaction of the molten wax, the webs tend to separate while in the bathand admit additional wax which accumulates at the point where thecombined web passes over the equalizer bar, just prior to leaving thelaminating unit. Such accumulated wax flows from between the layers andspreads to the outside of the web, thus forming a heavy or thickenedwaxed edge which is unnecessary and undesirable.

I have found that these difiiculties may be successfully overcome andthat the amounts of wax between and on the outside of the layers may beaccurately controlled by passing the webs through a wax bath and thenregulating the thickness of the film of wax on all surfaces of the websoutside of the bath.

According to my invention, two webs of paper, which may be printed ornot, as desired, are led angularly into a bath of molten wax. Theindividual webs are then passed beneath a roller which is at leastpartially submerged in the wax; and said webs come naturally together ata position beneath the surface of the wax and are led out of the bath..As the waxed webs are led out of the bath, the exposed surface of theupper web or layer is regulated to a predetermined thickness by contactwith an equalizer bar. The two webs are then separated by an equalizerbar which acts'to regulate the thickness of the wax layer on the insidesurfaces of the two webs. They are then passed over another equalizerbar which regulates the thickness of the waxed layer on the exposedsurface of the lower web; and finally are joined together and passedinto a cooling bath for setting the completely laminated web which isthen dried and cut into sheets or rewound. The joining or finallaminating of the webs may take place subsequent to, but preferably atthe same time as, the last metering operation on the bottom of the web.

Apparatus for practicing the above-outlined method may include acontainer for holding a bath of molten wax, guiding means for guidingthe web into and out of the bath of wax, a first equalizer bar forregulating the thickness of the wax on the exposed surface of the upperlayer, a second equalizer bar for simultaneously regulating thethickness of the film of wax on the inside surfaces of the web, andathird and last equalizer bar for regulating the thickness of the layerof wax on the exposed surface of the lower web. Such an apparatus andmethod permit the webs to be laminated at speeds in excess of 400 feetper minute, and effect an accurate control of the amount of wax betweenlayers and on the exposed surfaces of the laminated web.

The above and other features and objects of the invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description andthe accompanying drawing, wherein the single figure is a diagrammaticrepresentation of one form of apparatus with which my improved method ofwax lamination may be efiectively carried out.

As shown in the drawing, a pair of paper webs, including an upper web 10and a lower web l2, are led downwardly at an angle from a printing press[4 into a bath of wax l6 contained in a suitable housing or tub l8. Whenthe completely laminated web is to be used for wrappers, the upper andlower webs i0 and I2 may have suitable markings applied upon theirexposed surfaces, and the printing unit 14 includes means for varyingthe movement of at least one of the webs so that whenthey are finallybrought-together and laminated the markings on the upper and lowersurfaces thereof will be in register. The webs l0 and [2 are led beneathguide rollers 20 and 22, respectively, to a large roller '24 partiallysubmerged in the wax bath l6 and preferably driven during operation ofthe apparatus. In order to facilitate threading of the apparatus priorto operation, a cooperating feed roller 26 may be provided. but such aroller is moved to the position shown in the drawing after the apparatushas been threaded and is set in operation. It will be noted that the twowebs l0 and I! come naturally together in passing beneath the rangementof the apparatus is desirable, it will be apparent that the guiderollers may be arranged to feed the two webs through the bath Ii withouttheir coming together in this manner.

On emerging from the wax bath Ii, the upper surface of the web I0 ispassed into contact with an equalizer bar 30 which may be of anysuitable construction and acts to regulate the amount of wax remainingon the exposed upper surface of the combined web. After passing over themetering bar 30, the two webs Ill and I! are led over a large roller 32to a separating and double equalizer bar 34. This bar 34, which may be abar about one inch in diameter and wound with rather fine wire, ispositioned and arranged to separate the webs l0 and I2 and bear againstthe adjoining or inside surfaces thereof so as accurately'to regulatethe amount of wax adhering to said surfaces, and consequently toregulate definitely the amount of wax between the layers of thecompletely laminated web. The arrangement of the apparatus thusfardescribed is such that the wax between the webs l0 and I2 i stillmolten when it reaches the double equalizer bar 34, so that any surplusand accumulated wax will flow back into the bath I6. Next, the webs l0and ii are led over an equalizer bar 36, similar to the equalizer bar30, which, contacting the lower or exposed surface of the web l2,regulates the amount of wax adhering to this surface. Finally, the websI0 and I2, with the amount of wax on each of their surfaces accuratelyregulated, are' brought together or laminated into a combined orcompleted web 38. As shown in the drawing, the bringing together orjoining of the webs preferably takes place simultaneously with theregulating operation on the bottom of the web; but, by using anadditional roller beyond the equalizer bar 36, such joining may bearranged to take place subsequent to the last regulating operation, ifdesired. After the final joining or laminating, the combined web may bepassed over a guide roller 40 into a cooling bath 42. The cooling bath42, which preferably consists of a container of chilled water, causesthe wax to become set and the layers firmly adhered together andsimultaneously glosses the exposed surfaces.

The completely laminated and glossed web may then be led about a largeroller 44 and guided through a suitable dryer 46. It may then be passedover guide rollers 48 to any subsequent web treating device 50, such asa cutter, perfora tor, or rewind mechanism.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that by my presentinvention, I have provided a method of wax laminating a plurality ofwebs wherein the amounts of wax on the exposed surfaces of thecompletely laminated web and between the layers thereof are accuratelycontrolled. With the apparatus and method de-' scribed, it is possibleto operate at web speeds greater than 400 feet per minute. While I havedescribed the invention as combined with a printing unit such as isdisclosed in the copending application of William F. Grupe, abovereferred to, it will be understood that the invention is not limited inits use to such a combination. Moreover, various changes-may be made inthe construction and method, and certain features or steps thereof maybe employed without others, without departing from my invention orsacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A method of wax laminating two webs of paper, which comprises passingsaid webs into a bath of wax and permitting them to come togethernaturally within the bath; leading said webs out of the bath andregulating the amount of wax on the exposed surface of the upper web toa layer of predetermined thickness; separating said webs and regulatingthe amount of wax on the adjoining inside surfaces of said webs tolayers of predetermined thickness; and regulating the amount of wax onthe exposed surface of the lower web to a layer of predeterminedthickness and laminating the thus waxed webs.

2. Apparatus for laminating two webs of paper, comprising a bath ofmolten wax; means for guiding said webs through said bath; a firstequalizer bar for regulating the amount of wax adhering to the exposedsurface of one of said webs; a double equalizer bar for separating thewebs and simultaneously regulating the amount of wax adhering to theinside adjoining surfaces of said webs; and a second equalizer bar forregulating the amount of wax adhering to the exposed surface of theother of said webs, the position of said second equalizer bar withrespect to the path of the webs being such that said webs arereassociated into a laminated web in passing thereover. I

3.-Apparatus for laminating two webs of paper, comprising a bath of wax;a roller disposed within said bath for guiding said webs therethroughand permitting them to come naturally together beneath the surface ofthe wax; means for regulating the amount of wax adhering to the exposedsurface of the upper web; means for separating said webs andsimultaneously regulating the amount of wax adherin to the insideadjoining surfaces of both of said webs; and means for regulating theamount of wax adhering to the exposed surface of the bottom web, saidlast regulating means being arranged to cause the two webs to be joinedas they pass thereover.

4. Apparatus for laminating two webs of paper, comprising a bath ofmolten wax; means for guiding said webs through said bath; a firstequalizer bar forregulating the amount of wax adhering to the exposedsurface of one of said webs; a double equalizer bar for separating saidWebs and simultaneously regulating the amount of wax adhering to theinside adjoining surfaces of said webs; a second equalizer bar forregulating the amount of wax adhering to the exposed surface of theother of said webs and for causing said webs to be joined as they passthereover; and means for chilling and glossing the thus waxed webs.

ARTHUR M. WICKWIRE, JR.

